Wimbledon 2022 results: Serena Williams loses on Centre Court return as Rafael Nadal gets off to winning start

[{"selector":"#anim-28dd100b-cc4b-4ed0-aa36-8337beeab2cb [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ae43fd86-3b02-4747-9ce8-95af1fde0711","keyframes":[{"transform":"scale(1)","offset":0},{"transform":"scale(1.05)","offset":0.33},{"transform":"scale(0.995)","offset":0.66},{"transform":"scale(1)","offset":1}],"delay":0,"duration":1600,"easing":"ease-in-out","fill":"both","iterations":1}] That's Flow!

Day two of Wimbledon 2022 saw Rafael Nadal begin his quest for an incredible 23rd Grand Slam, having already triumphed at the Australian Open and French Open this year, with victory over Argentine Francisco Cerundolo.

[{"selector":"#anim-4fa10579-6983-4e7b-9878-e2a296b29ab8 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d9af1c7f-95ac-4262-b358-07adbfe163f6","keyframes":[{"transform":"scale(1)","offset":0},{"transform":"scale(1.05)","offset":0.33},{"transform":"scale(0.995)","offset":0.66},{"transform":"scale(1)","offset":1}],"delay":0,"duration":1600,"easing":"ease-in-out","fill":"both","iterations":1}] That's Flow!

The 36-year-old is among the favourites to win the tournament despite ongoing problems with a foot injury and needed to overcome the world No.41 in four sets to win 6-4 6-3 3-6 6-4.

[{"selector":"#anim-08f0a8c6-9557-40d2-83f1-55fc407c8705 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ffce0ddb-cb72-488c-a404-d74080d5ccb0","keyframes":[{"transform":"scale(1)","offset":0},{"transform":"scale(1.05)","offset":0.33},{"transform":"scale(0.995)","offset":0.66},{"transform":"scale(1)","offset":1}],"delay":0,"duration":1600,"easing":"ease-in-out","fill":"both","iterations":1}] That's Flow!

The first match on Centre Court saw world No.1 Iga Swiatek extend her unbeaten run to 36 matches in all competitions with a victory over Croatian qualifier Jana Fett, while the second women's match on the show court was reserved for one of the all-time greats.

[{"selector":"#anim-ba8f7575-d53b-442a-8aca-c91085b452ae [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bae52178-571a-4097-a78c-e5e9997eebab","keyframes":[{"transform":"scale(1)","offset":0},{"transform":"scale(1.05)","offset":0.33},{"transform":"scale(0.995)","offset":0.66},{"transform":"scale(1)","offset":1}],"delay":0,"duration":1600,"easing":"ease-in-out","fill":"both","iterations":1}] That's Flow!

Serena Williams, making her first singles appearance in one day short of a year, almost had the fairytale return but Wimbledon debutant Harmony Tan beat her in a tie-break after three gruelling sets - 5-7 6-1 6-7 (7-10).

[{"selector":"#anim-15c1892d-aa3f-423e-bd6d-6429344bebb0 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-478e0977-6de9-42dd-933c-912ab0d44b3c","keyframes":[{"transform":"scale(1)","offset":0},{"transform":"scale(1.05)","offset":0.33},{"transform":"scale(0.995)","offset":0.66},{"transform":"scale(1)","offset":1}],"delay":0,"duration":1600,"easing":"ease-in-out","fill":"both","iterations":1}] That's Flow!

Rafael Nadal’s assault on a men’s all-time record-extending 23rd Grand Slam title was put to the test on Tuesday at Wimbledon, where he had to battle for three and a half hours before he overcame tournament debutant Francisco Cerundolo 6-4, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 in first round action.

[{"selector":"#anim-345a22bb-46db-4ad8-a88b-33874d818cc8 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-022a4afa-1499-4ceb-93f3-9b5d48a75c28","keyframes":[{"transform":"scale(1)","offset":0},{"transform":"scale(1.05)","offset":0.33},{"transform":"scale(0.995)","offset":0.66},{"transform":"scale(1)","offset":1}],"delay":0,"duration":1600,"easing":"ease-in-out","fill":"both","iterations":1}] That's Flow!

It was Nadal’s first appearance at the All England Club since 2019 and considering he did not play a grass-court warm-up tournament after winning a 14th Roland-Garros crown three weeks ago, this was his first competitive match on the surface in three years.

[{"selector":"#anim-690c45a5-2e9e-45f9-9072-609650998a05 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d3c9fb86-c18e-4f1b-abe7-eb3b99c55b34","keyframes":[{"transform":"scale(1)","offset":0},{"transform":"scale(1.05)","offset":0.33},{"transform":"scale(0.995)","offset":0.66},{"transform":"scale(1)","offset":1}],"delay":0,"duration":1600,"easing":"ease-in-out","fill":"both","iterations":1}] That's Flow!

\Nadal looked on track to post a straight-sets victory when he led by two sets and a break in the third but his 23-year-old opponent had other ideas.

[{"selector":"#anim-7b817651-cdeb-461d-8ad6-e7e0ced04657 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-389b6ffa-9c4e-4c49-aa78-dedeb9edc20f","keyframes":[{"transform":"scale(1)","offset":0},{"transform":"scale(1.05)","offset":0.33},{"transform":"scale(0.995)","offset":0.66},{"transform":"scale(1)","offset":1}],"delay":0,"duration":1600,"easing":"ease-in-out","fill":"both","iterations":1}] That's Flow!

Looking to notch just his second-ever tour-level win on grass, world No.41 Cerundolo broke Nadal twice to take the third, and led 4-2 in the fourth before the No.2 seed recovered and avoided a deciding set.

[{"selector":"#anim-6c5341d5-11d8-419f-9d6e-3fc26554039d [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-92911003-eaf3-4994-b11f-2a860ed7bf3e","keyframes":[{"transform":"scale(1)","offset":0},{"transform":"scale(1.05)","offset":0.33},{"transform":"scale(0.995)","offset":0.66},{"transform":"scale(1)","offset":1}],"delay":0,"duration":1600,"easing":"ease-in-out","fill":"both","iterations":1}] That's Flow!

The victory means Nadal has joined Martina Navratilova in fourth place on the all-time list of most Grand Slam match-wins with 306.

[{"selector":"#anim-8023875a-a6c0-4a0d-ad89-8fe304c596dc [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-05cf766b-ffca-4b90-b636-2ee6abddd9c5","keyframes":[{"transform":"scale(1)","offset":0},{"transform":"scale(1.05)","offset":0.33},{"transform":"scale(0.995)","offset":0.66},{"transform":"scale(1)","offset":1}],"delay":0,"duration":1600,"easing":"ease-in-out","fill":"both","iterations":1}] That's Flow!